‘Declassify National Security Council info on Op Yemen 2ʼ
THE former defence minister says the NSC had led the humanitarian mission which saved more than 700 Malaysian citizens in war-torn Yemen.
FORMER defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein wants the government to declassify the National Security Council (NSC) details of Op Yemen 2 if it wishes to find out the truth.
“The humanitarian mission was led by the council, as I stated on record on March 16, 2016.This was a matter of national security concerning the safety of Malaysian citizens and students in war-torn Yemen.
“They (the government) said the blood is on my hands, but they didn’t explain the 767 students we saved in Yemen,” he said, adding that it had been six months and the government should be investigating him, instead of trying to dig up mistakes.
Speaking at the Parliament lobby here yesterday, Hishammuddin said since Pakatan Harapan was the government of the day, it should conduct an investigation with the relevant agencies.
He distributed the Hansard of his replies with regard to the operation to media members.
“They (the government) said we never brought it to cabinet. But they forgot about the National Security Council. They should ask the external intelligence research unit, ask the Special Branch.
“These are national secrets. I don’t want to reveal them as I am a professional.
“If they want to do it properly, use the agencies under them to find out the truth instead of talking about it in public, he said, adding that troops never reached Yemen.
“Declassify secret information and they will know how many students we saved in Yemen. There are more then 700 students in Yemen based on my intelligence.
“But all this information must be declassified as it is in the national interest,” he added.
It was reported on Tuesday that the previous cabinet did not sanction the armed force’s role in providing logistical support for the Arab military pact.
Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong had said the then defence minister did not receive approval from the cabinet for such a role for the troops under Op Yemen 2.
Hishammuddin said he did not know why Liew brought up the issue again when it was officially answered.
He said many questions posed by him to Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu and Liew were never answered.
“What’s going to happen to safety of Sabah, the bilateral ties with Indonesia and the Philippines. What’s going to happen to bilateral ties with countries that have a strategic alliance with us?
“What’s going to happen to our veterans, housing, education for our men and reduction in budget allocation?
“Patriot (the National Patriots Association) highlighted all these before. Why are they not vocal now?”
Hishammuddin expressed disappointment with the leadership of Mindef, which was seen diverting and putting the blame on the previous government.
In an immediate response in Parliament, Liew defended his statement, saying the Yemen operation involved national funds.
“This is a big decision. If it is an emergency, for example, no one disputes Op Yemen. There were no discussions and it is against our foreign policy.”
Op Yemen 2 was carried out in 2015 to evacuate Malaysians in Yemen during a civil war between the Yemeni government led by Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Houthi militia.